Cameras allowed in court for Mo. sweetener case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri judge will allow media to have cameras, audio and video recording during court appearances by the former head of an artificial sweetener company now facing charges of theft and securities fraud.

Bruce Cole was chairman and CEO of Mamtek U.S. Inc., which received $39 million in industrial development bonds from the city of Moberly to build a sweetener plant. Construction stalled after a bond payment was missed. Authorities accuse Cole of using bond revenues for personal purposes and misleading investors.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/YP4R85 ) that Associate Circuit Judge Mason Gebhardt on Wednesday also decided to allow Cole to appear in civilian clothes in court. The judge still is considering whether Cole should be released on reduced bond.